Whatever Wednesday:Beary Tale

I went to see the Kokanee Salmon that are migrating upstream right now in South Lake Tahoe last Friday. I was hoping to see a bear since I just got butt shots of one the last time I went to see this migration back in 2010.

We saw salmon schools and some swimming around the creek, but no bears while we were there so, we went to look for fall color, have lunch, and return for the late afternoon, early evening and maybe see a bear come to the creek to eat.

We got lucky and a young black bear did come by to eat! It got really exciting for several seconds when the bear wanted to get up on the deck I and quite a few observers were on and cross to the other side. This is how close I was. Right at the very edge of my focusing limit…too close! I and everyone else backed up and the bear hopped up on the bridge and I was still too close so we backed up more and the bear walked across the bridge and into the woods.

It looked like it was heading back to the creek but near the other bridge so, I made for that and sure enough, the bear went up on a huge beaver dam and started hunting for something to eat. It didn’t fish. I wonder if it didn’t learn that skill?

That’s my bear tale. It was pretty exciting and neat seeing it.

I hope you’re all having a lovely week!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 80-200mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 20.0.6

more to come…

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Author: circadianreflections

My name is Deborah Zajac. I'm a photographer living in Nevada at the base of the Eastern Sierras. I am a passionate nature, landscape, night/astro photographer. I shoot predominately in color and use Nikon Digital Cameras, and lenses.
I hope you enjoy seeing some of the photos I've taken while on my travels.
Please feel free to leave a comment I'd love to hear from you.
View all posts by circadianreflections

Oh, how cool to see them in your yard, but then again…not so much!
We have pinion nuts in the market right now. First time I’ve ever seen them. They’re so expensive! I tried a couple. They’re okay raw. I wonder if they’re better roasted?

It could have been dangerous, but fortunately it just wanted across the bridge and went on its merry way.
Hopefully they are headed that way…for a long winter’s nap!

Wow! Close encounter! The bear looks curious about the “deck people”. I wonder why. I’ve come across a few black bears while hiking in the woods. We’ve looked at each other and kept our distance. I think they’re only a threat if they don’t have enough wild food and are interested in your snacks or if you get too close to a mother with cubs. Luckily, the only time I’ve seen cubs, my friend and I spotted them from far away uphill and we chose a different path to get down.

I wonder what the bear was doing in the area and why it wasn’t fishing. What was it looking for… Thanks for the interesting story! 😊

Thanks for sharing your bear tale Myriam! I’ve seen a mama and two cubs in Yosemite National Park and thankfully, they were way down the hill and I was up the hill near my car.

It was looking for food, but not fishing. I have heard if they don’t learn that from their mama they don’t fish. It only rummaged around the two beaver dams. Perhaps there’s something more tasty than fish as far as that bear is concerned? Still such a neat thing to see.

Have I told you my bear story? When I was a girl we lived in northern CA in rural towns. Blocks had been carved out but were still wild, filled with berry canes. Mmmmm…..So as a little girl I’d go off to find berries. On one occasion I happened to look up from my intense focus on berries to see that I had a bear companion, also intent on eating berries. YIKES! I got out of there in a (very cautious) hurry!

The key is to not surprise or startle it in the first place and it didn’t seem bothered at all by the people there. I suppose it’s been coming there since it was born for fishing season. Back up was what my brain said, so I did it!

Thank you, Joanne! My stomach dropped to the floor when it came up to the bridge and wanted up! That was too close, but when it crossed over and got to the beaver dam that was far enough away that I felt reasonably safe.

Sometimes you just have to live in the moment and forget the camera. I finally saw my first deer with antlers while out hiking one day with Helen. While she was hissing at me to use my camera (in my hands!), I just stood there and savoured the moment.

No courage, just being in the right spot at the right time. I couldn’t back up fast enough when it wanted to hop on the bridge! That was too close for me too. The distance from me and the beaver dam where I last photographed the bear was the perfect safe distance for me.
Of course if it got mad and ran at us it wouldn’t have been. It’s wild after all. I’m counting my blessings that everyone there was respectful and mindful of that.

Thank you so much, Teagan! You’re probably right because when it was upstream more in another pile of logs and sticks it found something to eat. I was just hoping to see it fishing for salmon instead I got to close to it when it decided to hop on the bridge. I’m counting my blessings.